In Situ Measurement of Localized Current Distribution in H2-Br2 Redox Flow Batteries

• Published in: Energies (Basel) Vol. 14; no. 16; p. 4945
• Main Authors: Cantu, Brenda Berenice Martinez, Fischer, Peter, Zitoun, David, Tübke, Jens, Pinkwart, Karsten
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 12-08-2021
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Batteries; Bromine; Capital costs; current density distribution; Current distribution; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Electromagnetism; Energy efficiency; Energy storage; Fuel cells; Hydrogen; In situ measurement; Investigations; Printed circuit boards; redox flow battery; segmented electrode; Sensors; Spatial discrimination; Spatial resolution; Storage batteries
• ISSN: 1996-1073; 1996-1073
• DOI: 10.3390/en14164945

Hydrogen bromine redox flow batteries (RFB) are considered to be one of the most promising storage alternatives, as this technology offers both high energy and high-power density. In this work a printed circuit board type of segmented current collector for the measurement of locally resolved current density was developed. This analytical tool was inserted as hydrogen anode current collector in a hydrogen-bromine test cell. Charging and discharging operation was monitored under different stoichiometric flow conditions and the impact on current distribution is presented. This technique offers the possibility to prove cell limiting conditions with spatial resolution, improving our understanding and determining optimal operating conditions for a given design.